Apparatus for flanging can bodies

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a uniformly sized flange on one end of a can body. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vertically spaced assemblies operating relative to a vertical centerline. A bottom lifter plate serves to position a can body vertically with respect to an annular die assembly. The die assembly has radially slidable segments for abutting the can body and for providing a lip about which the body edge is bent to form the flange. Spaced above the die assembly and movable vertically is a punch assembly which serves to both bend the edge about the annular lip on the die assembly and to move the die segments radially inwardly toward the vertical centerline. After the flange is formed, the lifter plate raises the can body above the top edge of the annular lip after which the die segments are opened and the can body lowered to remove it from the flanging apparatus.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for forming a flange on a can body, comprising: means to move an unflanged can body upwardly for prepositioning within a substantially annular die assembly,   a vertically movable punch assembly having a curling groove in the face of a punch substantially coextensive with the top edge of a prepositioned can body,   a plurality of radially slidable segments within the die assembly abutting at least a portion of the upper outer surface of the can body and forming a substantially annular lip extending about the circumference of the can body at a vertical elevation below the top edge of the can when the segments are in their radially innermost positions   means for moving the punch downwardly whereby when the curling groove impacts the top edge of the can body it will bend the edge over the lip as it continues downwardly, and   means supplemental to the radially slidable segments for restraining movement of the can body when the segments are in their radially innermost positions.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as in claim 1 further including means for moving the punch upwardly after the flange is formed on the can. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as in claim 2 including means to move the flanged can body upwardly to a position where the bottom edge of the flange is above the vertical elevation of the lip. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as in claim 3 including means for retracting the segments to their radially outermost positions. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as in claim 4 including means for lowering the flanged can body to a position without the die assembly. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as in claim 1 including a plurality of spring means for urging the segments toward their outermost positions. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as in claim 1 including a cam means for sliding the segments inwardly to their positions abutting the can body. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as in claim 7 in which a portion of the cam means is spring mounted on the punch assembly. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as in claim 7 in which a portion of each segment forms a cam follower of the cam means. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which the restraining means includes a plurality of rubber inserts extending through the segments and abutting the can body.